Foam generating floor conditioner



Oct 1965 A. F. ERNSTBERGER ETAL $212,117

FOAM GENERATING FLOOR CONDITIONER Filed June 25, 1965 38 36 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 if 35% we 1% 36/ INVENTOR.

1965 A. F. ERNSTBERGER ETAL 3,212,117

FOAM GENERATING FLOOR CONDITIONER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25, 1963 Oct. 19, 1965 A. F. ERNSTBERGER ETAL 3,212,117

FOAM GENERATING FLOOR CONDITIONER 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed June 25. 1963 R O T N E V m United States Patent 3,212,117 FOAM GENERATING FLOOR CONDITIONER Alfred F. Ernstherger, Broadview, and Thomas J. Finlayson, Forest Park, Ill., assignors to Sunbeam Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 25, 1963, Ser. No. 290,372 17 Claims. (Cl. -50) The present invention relates to a combined floor conditioner and rug scrubber and more particularly relates to a floor conditioner having means provided for generating foam useable in scrubbing rugs.

In recent years, light portable machines for scrubbing and polishing floors have become extremely popular. Simplifications in structure and high volume production has permitted these floor polishers or floor conditioners, as they are often called, to be sold at very low prices compared to the larger commercial units which were used for the home up until a few years ago. These polishers conventionally include an electric motor and a gear reduction interconnecting the motor with one or more horizontally disposed disc type brushes. One example of such a polisher is disclosed and claimed in Jepson et a1. copending application, Serial No. 106,085, now Patent No. 3,102,292, filed April 27, 1961, which application is assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. Another example of such a floor polisher is disclosed and claimed in Jepson et a1. copending application, Serial N10. 144,890, now Patent No. 3,107,378, filed October 13, 1961, which application is also assigned to the same asignee as the instant application. The first cited application is directed to a two brush polisher while the second cited case discloses a single brush polisher.

One of the problems encountered in using a floor polisher for rug scrubbing relates to the depositing of a suitable cleansing material or solution onto the rug. Some use has been made of dry or powdered materials which are sprinkled on the rug and rubbed into engagement with the nap whereby the dirt is removed therefrom. It has been found, however, that a properly prepared foam made from a detergent liquid is less expensive and more effective for rug cleaning. Since most floor polishers are equipped or adapted to be equipped with reservoirs for dispensing detergents or wax on to hard surface floors, it is a logical development to utilize these liquid reservoirs or dispensers for detergents to be applied to rugs for rug cleaning. When depositing detergents from such dispense-rs, there is a tendency for the solution to fall on the rug and move downwardly into the nap before it has been turned into a foam. The detergent liquid must be made to foam if it is to be properly distributed across the rug to pick up the dirt contained therein. With the detergent deposited in liquid form, most of the liquid soaks into the rug while only a small percentage is churned into foam by the engagement of the bristles with the liquid saturated portion of the nap. As a consequence, the rug becomes soaked with much detergent liquid which is ineffective for cleaning purposes. This soaking of the rug is wasteful of the detergent and retards the drying of the rug to the point where it may be used again.

To obtain most efficient utilization of the detergent and to minimize the wetting of the rug, it is necessary to combine the detergent with air to produce a dry foam before it is deposited on the rug. When reference is made to a dry foam, it is intended to describe a foam having a very small amount of liquid entrapped in the bubbles of foam. It has been found that through the use of a dry foam, it is possible to clean a rug thoroughly and have it completely dry and ready for use in a matter of a few hours. There have been many attempts at generating foam from a detergent solution for use in rug scrubbing. There are available on the market today foam generating attachments which may be used with vacuum cleaners. There are also elaborate commercial devices utilizing very complex surfaces to perform the foam generating function. It would be desirable to provide a simple foam generating means which could be incorporated in all floor polishers at a very small increase in price.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved floor conditioner having a simple inexpensive foam generating means associated therewith.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved floor conditioner having a foam generating device integrated with the brush structure of the floor polisher to provide a simple and effective means of producing foam for rug scrubbing.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a foam generating means which represents a simple and inexpensive addition to a conventional floor polisher.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a floor conditioner and rug scrubber of the present invention showing the liquid dispenser associated therewith;

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged front elevational view of the floor conditioner of FIG. 1 with certain portions thereof cut away more fully to illustrate the invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the floor conditioner of FIG. 1 with portions cut away to expose the foam generating roller;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view through a floor conditioner brush illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4 with the floor polisher brush and other parts removed to simplify the showing;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a single brush floor polisher embodying an additional alternative embodiment of the invention from those illustrated in the previous figures; and

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the brush engaging plate shown in section in FIG. 6.

Briefly, the present invention is concerned with a floor conditioner having means for generating a rug cleaning foam from a liquid detergent by supplying the detergent to a foam pad mounted for rotation with the polisher brush and having a roller or abutment means fixedly mounted for compressing a portion of the sponge as it rotates past the roller or abutment. This compression of the detergent impregnated sponge produces a heavy dry foam which may then be transferred to the area where the brush bristles engage the floor or rug.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a floor conditioner generally designated by the reference numeral 12 which floor conditioner comprises a handle assembly 13 pivotally mounted to a housed power unit designated 14 which unit is enclosed within a housing 15. Associated with the power unit 14 are a pair of counter rotating brushes 16. The power unit 14 includes a motor 17 supported by a frame 18. The brushes 16 are drivingly related to the motor 17 by means of reduction gearing 19. The brushes 16 are provided with plastic brush backs 16a which are supported for rotation about stub shafts 20. The two shafts 20 are rigidly supported by frame 18 and are vertically positioned.

The reduction gearing 19 includes an output gear 21 which is in driving engagement with an internal gear 16b provided on the back of each of the brushes 16. The brushes 16 are also formed with an exterior gear 160 extending around the periphery of the brush back. Thus, the internal gear 16b on one of the brushes is driven through the reduction gearing 19 which results in the counter rotation of both brushes 16 through interengagement of the external gears 16a. The structure and arrangement of the motor 17 and its driving relationship with the brushes 16 forms no part of the instant invention and reference may be had to the above-cited Jepson et al. copending application, Serial No. 106,085 for the details.

For the purpose of generating a dry foam to be used in scrubbing rugs with the fioor conditioner 12, one of the brushes 16 is provided with an annular foam generating pad or disc 23 of polyurethane foam. The pad 23 is cemented in place in a recess 16d formed within the internal gear 16b on the brush 16. Inasmuch as the output gear 21 is located within the recess 16a in the right-hand brush as viewed in FIG. 2, the foam generating pad 23 is carried by the left-hand brush. To supply a liquid detergent to the foam generating pad 23, there is provided a liquid reservoir or dispenser 24 which is carried by the handle assembly 16. The details of the dispenser 24 which includes a control valve 25 having an operating handle 26 are fully disclosed in the abovecited Jepson et al. application, Serial No. 106,085. Connected to the bottom of the liquid dispenser 24 is a conduit 27 through which the liquid from the reservoir 24 may be dispensed upon actuation of the control valve 25 by raising up on the operating handle 26. The lower end of the liquid conduit 27 extends through an opening a in the housing 15 to a position immediately above the foam generating pad 23 as is best shown in FIG. 2. Thus, through actuation of the control valve 25, liquid detergent may be applied to the foam generating pad 23 carried by one of the brushes 16.

To produce a dry foam through the use of the foam pad 23 which has been soaked with liquid detergent, it is necessary to compress the foam pad 23. This compression of the pad and the resulting foam generation is accomplished by means of a conical roller 28 which is supported for rotation on an axle 29. The axle 29 is journalled in a bracket 30 which is rigidly secured to the frame 18. The roller 28 is mounted so that it extends radially with respect to the axis of the brush 16 and so that it compresses in a radial strip portion of the foam generating pad 23. The roller 28 is made conical in shape so that there is no slippage between the surface of the roller 28 and the engaged surface of the pad 23.

When the motor 17 is running, the brushes 16 are rotated causing the foam generating pad 23 to rotate in engagement with the conical roller 28 causing it also to rotate. When it is desired to produce foam for rug scrubbing, the control valve 25 on the dispenser 24 is actuated causing liquid detergent to be applied to the [foam pad 23. As the liquid detergent impregnated portion of the foam pad 23 engages the rollers 28, a dry foam is produced. The foam is produced by the compression of the pad 23 and flows from the pad 23 on the side of the roller on which the impregnated pad approaches 4 the roller. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3 with the brush adjacent the roller rotating clockwise, the foam is generated in the side of the roller toward the front of the floor conditioner 12. As the foam pad 23 moves away from the roller 28, it has been squeezed so that it is essentially free of foam and detergent.

The mounting bracket 30 for roller 28 is formed with an integral wall portion 31 which extends from immediately above roller 28 to frame 18. Wall portion 31 serves to prevent foam generated adjacent roller 28 from moving over the roller and around the remainder of the pad 23. The volume above the brushes is closely enclosed by the housing 15 and the frame 18. To direct the detergent foam from this area above the brush to a position where it will be picked up by the bristles of both of the brushes, a cylindrical wall 32 extending down from frame 18 (see FIG. 3) is provided with an opening 33 which is about one-half inch high and at the base of wall 32. As this foam fills the area between the top of the pad 23 and the housing 15 and frame 18, the foam passes through opening 33 in wall 32 downwardly to a position in front of and between the two brushes where it is picked up by bristles 16a which extend downwardly from the brush backs 16a. The foam generated above one of the brushes 16 is, therefore, conducted into the area of the bristles 16e where it is scrubbed into the nap of the rug by both brushes.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, there is disclosed an alternative embodiment of the invention which may readily be applied to a floor conditioner of the type described above. In the modified embodiment, a brush 35 is employed having a brush back 35a, an internal gear 35b, an external gear 35c and an interior recess 35d which parts resemble in structure those described above in connection with brushes 16. In addition, the brush 35 is provided with downwardly extending bristles 35e. The brush 35 is shown supported by stub shaft 36 which is secured to the frame 18 in the same manner as stub shafts 20 described above in connection with the first embodiment. The brush 35 is provided at its lower face with a recess 35 defined in part by an annular skirt 35g extending downwardly within the circularly disposed ring of bristles 35e. A foam generating pad 37 of polyurethane foam is received within the recess 35 on the lower face of the brush back 35a rather than on the top as was the position of the foam pad 23 in the first embodiment.

To deliver liquid detergent to the foam generating pad 37, it is necessary to provide a series of openings 3511 by means of which the detergent may move through the brush back 35a from the lower end of liquid conduit 27 positioned above the brush 35. To insure entrance of the liquid from conduit 27 into the holes 3511, a cylindrical deflector 38 is mounted within the recess 35d on the top of the brush back. The deflector 38 forms with the central portion of the brush 35 an annular space 39 into which the lower end of conduit 27 extends. Thus, as the brush 35 rotates and liquid is deposited against the top of the brush back 35a, it is thrown outwardly by centrifugal force into engagement with the deflector 38. The liquid detergent then flows downwardly through openings 25h into the foam generating pad 37.

To compress the pad 37 and produce foam for cleaning purposes, a nylon abutment member 40 is detachably supported on the lower end of the stub shaft 36. The abutment member 40 includes a pair of radially extending arms 41 which are adapted to compress aligned, radial sections of the foam generating pad 37 to produce the desired dry foam. As is best shown in FIG. 4, the radial arms 41 are formed with upwardly facing cylindrically curved surfaces 41a which engage and compress the radial portions of the foam pad 37. It has been found that a nylon abutment member 40 will provide low frictional engagement with the foam pad 37 and produce a minimum amount of wear. The member 40 is provided with a centrally disposed recess 42 within which is received the lower end of the stub shaft 36. For the purpose of restraining the member 40 from rotating with respect to the stub shaft 36, an integrally formed key portion 43 extending diametrically across the recess 42 is provided. The key portion 43 is received in a slot 36a formed in the end of the shaft 36.

The abutment member 40 is assembled to the brush 35 so that they may be handled as a unit even though the abutment member 40 is fixed with respect to the rotating brush 35 when it is assembled to the floor conditioner 12. To provide this assembly between the member 40 and the brush 35, an undercut flange 44 extends upwardly from the member 40 and three spaced latch projections 35 extend downwardly from the bottom of the brush back 35a. The latch projections 35j extend into the undercut portion of flange 44 to restrain the member 40 against axial movement with respect to the brush 35 while at the same time permitting relative rotation between the member 40 and the brush 35. The assembly of the brush 35 and the member 40 are detachably retained on the end of stub shaft 36 by means of a resilient C-ring 45 which is mounted on an annular recess 36b formed in the end of stub shaft 36. The C-ring 45 is formed so that it may be compressed as the brush 35 and member 40 are assembled thereto. When the member 40 is properly assembled, the C-ring expands into a slot 46 formed on the inner face of the recess 42. This resilient ring with the complementary slots in the shaft and the socket is a well known assembly means used for detachably mounting heaters in food mixers. It should be appreciated that in the assembled position, the abutment member 40 is restrained against axial movement by the C-ring 45 and restrained against rotation by the key portion 43. Thus, while the brush 35 is rotated by the motor 17 of a suitable floor conditioner 12, the abutment member 40 compresses the foam generating pad 37 as it is rotated. With the application of liquid detergent to the pad 37, a dry foam is produced beneath the brush back 35a. The skirt 35g provided on the brush 35 directs the foam to the area when the bristles 35c engage the rug. Without the skirt 35g, the detergent foam tends to pass through the bristles and to be thrown outwardly therefrom by centrifugal force produced by the rotation of the brush. It should be appreciated that the embodiment of FIG. 4 may be applied to the same type of floor conditioner 12 disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 except for the fact that the roller 28 has been removed and the end of the liquid conduit 27 has been repositioned to deliver the liquid detergent through the holes 35h in the brush back 35a. In addition, since the foam generating pad 37 of this embodiment produces foam at only one of the brushes, it may be desirable to adapt both brushes of the polisher to generate foam in this manner. A second conduit 27 would be required.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, there is shown a third embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is applicable to a single brush floor polisher of the type disclosed in the abovecited Jepson et a1. application, Serial No. 144,890. This single brush floor conditioner generally designated by reference numeral 50 includes a motor 51 enclosed within a housing 52 and supported by a frame 53. The motor is provided with suitable reduction gearing, the output of which drivingly engages an internal gear member 54 provided on a single disc type brush 55. The gear member 54 is formed with an outer cylindrical portion 54a which has gear teeth thereon and an inner bearing boss 54b. Between the cylindrical portion 54a and the bearing boss 54b, there is an annular recess 56.

The brush 55 has bristles 55a extending downwardly around the outer edges to form an annular ring of bristles. The brush 55 is journalled for rotation about a fixed stub shaft 57. The stub shaft 57 is provided with an axially extending recess 57 within which is supported a rug scrubbing attachment 58 in the manner disclosed in detail in the above-cited Jepson et a1 case, Serial No. 144,890.

The attachment 58 includes a vertically extending supporting shaft 58a and a height adjustment means including a pin 58b and a member 580 having a plurality of apertures of different depth within which the pin 58b may be located. The pin 58b is carried by a rug engaging plate 58d which is substantially horizontal with turned up edges to reduce the friction between the plate 58d and the rug being scrubbed.

The embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 in that the brush 55 is provided at its lower face with an annular foam generating pad 59 which is secured to the brush 55 by any suitable means such cementing it directly thereto. To deliver the liquid detergent from a suitable reservoir, the lower end of the conduit 27 may be connected to a coupling 60 provided in the housing 52. A second conduit 61 extends from the conduit coupling 60 through an opening 53a to a position within the recess 56. When the control valve on the liquid reservoir or dispenser is actuated, 'liquid detergent will be delivered through the conduits 27 and 61 into the annular recess 56. The gear member 54 is formed with a plurality of openings 54c around the bottom outer edge of the recess 56. Thus, the detergent deposited within the recess 56 moves outwardly through openings 54c into the foam generating pad 59.

To provide the fixed abutment means for compressing the foam generating pad 59, the rug scrubbing attachment 58 is provided with a U-shaped rib or abutment member 62 which extends upwardly into compressing engagement with the foam generating pad 59. As is best shown in FIG. 7, the rib or abutment 62 extends radially with respect to the axis of the brush 55 with the bight portion in sliding engagement with the foam generating pad 59. The rug scrubbing attachment 58 is mounted on the stub shaft 57 so that relative rotation is prevented. Thus, the abutment 62 is fixed with respect to the frame 53. As the foam is generated through engagement of the abutment 62 with the foam generating pad 59, the foam is deposited on the rug engaging plate 58d from which it moves outwardly and passes over the edge of the plate 58d into engagement with the rug and the bristles 55a.

While there have been illustrated an described several particular embodiments of floor conditioners having foam generating means associated therewith, it will be appreciated that numerous changes and modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all those changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A floor conditioner comprising a motor driven brush mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, a pad of sponge material supported by said brush, a fixed abutment mounted to compress a portion of said pad, means for depositing a liquid detergent on said pad whereby foam is produced as the detergent containing portion of said pad is rotated against said abutment, and means for directing said foam to the floor adjacent said brush.

2. A floor conditioner comprising a motor supported on a frame, a disc brush mounted on said frame for rotation about a vertical axis, means drivingly connecting said motor and brush, said brush having a rigid circular back with bristles extending downwardly from a circular peripheral portion of said back, a circular pad of sponge material mounted on said brush back, said pad being concentric with and of smaller diameter than 'said brush back, means for applying a liquid detergent to said pad, and a fixed abutment carried by said frame to compress a portion of said pad whereby foam is produced as the detergent containing portion of said pad is rotated against said abutment.

3. The floor conditioner of claim 2 wherein said pad is annular in shape and said abutment extends radiallv 7 with respect to said brush axis to compress a radial segment of said pad.

4. The floor conditioner of claim 2 wherein said abutment comprises a conical roller mounted for rotation about its axis which extends substantially radially said brush axis, and means adjacent said roller for directing said foam into an area adjacent the bristles of said brush.

5. A rug scrubbing machine comprising a frame supporting a motor, a brush mounted for rotation on said frame and driven by said motor, said brush having a rigid brush back with bristles extending therefrom, a fiat annular sponge supported on said brush back, an abutment mounted on said frame in compressing engagement with a radially extending portion of said sponge, means for depositing a liquid detergent on said sponge whereby foam is generated as said annular sponge rotates past said abutment, and means conducting said foam from said brush back to the bristled portion of said brush.

6. In a twin brush floor polisher having a motor supported on a frame and enclosed by a housing, a pair of horizontally disposed disc brushes driven by said motor for rotation about vertical axis, said brushes having rigid brush backs with bristles extending downwardly therefrom, an annular sponge pad supported on one of said brush backs, a conical roller carried by said frame and extending radially of said annular sponge pad, liquid detergent dispensing means carried by said frame to deposit detergent into said pad at a point spaced from said roller, said conical roller being in rolling compressing engagement with said pad whereby foam is produced from said liquid detergent, and means to conduct said foam to said brush bristles.

7. A rug scrubbing machine comprising a motor supported by a frame, a pair of horizontally disposed disc brushes carried by said frame and driven by said motor, said brushes having rigid brush backs with bristles extending downwardly therefrom, a liquid detergent dispenser, a recess formed in one of said brush backs, an annular sponge received in said recess, an conduit connected to said dispenser and extending into the space between said brushes and said frame to deliver liquid from said dispenser to said sponge, a rigid abutment positioned to compress a radial segment of said sponge to generate foam from the detergent delivered to said sponge, and means rigidly supporting said abutment on said frame.

8. The rug scrubbing machine of claim 7 wherein said recess is formed in the upper side of said brush back, said abutment being positioned between said frame and said sponge, and means for confining said foam to a limited area between said sponge and said frame and for delivering said foam to the floor adjacent said brush bristles.

9. The rug scrubbing machine of claim 7 wherein said recess is formed in the bottom side of said brush back, said abutment being positioned below said sponge, and said means supporting said abutment extending through a central opening in one of said brushes.

10. A rug scubbing machine comprising a frame supporting a motor, a brush mounted for rotation on said frame and driven by said motor, said brush having a rigid brush back with bristles extending therefrom, a flat annular sponge supported on the bottom of said brush back, an abutment mounted on said frame in compressing engagement with a radially extending portion of said sponge, means for depositing a liquid detergent on said sponge whereby foam is generated as said annular sponge rotates past said abutment, and a circular plate carried by said frame and positioned beneath said brush back to support said rug scrubbing machine with said brush bristles engaging the rug around the periphery of said plate, said abutment being supported on the upper surface of said plate.

11. A floor conditioner comprising a motor supported on a frame, a disc brush mounted on said frame for rotation about a vertical axis, means drivingly connecting said motor and brush, said brush having a rigid circular back with annularly disposed bristles extending downwardly from a circular peripheral portion of said back, a circular pad of sponge material mounted on the bottom of said brush back inside of the bristle supporting portion thereof, a stub shaft extending downwardly from said frame through said brush back to support said brush for rotation with respect to said frame, means for applying a liquid detergent to said pad, and a fixed abutment carried by said stub shaft and positioned to compress a portion of said pad whereby foam is produced as the detergent containing portion of said pad is rotated against said abutment.

12. The floor conditioner of claim 11 having a horizontally positioned rug engaging disc carried by said stub shaft, said disc being positioned within the ring of bristles whereby said disc and said bristles engage the rug simultaneously, and said abutment being supported on the upper surface of said disc.

13. The floor conditioner in claim 11 wherein said stub shaft is provided with an upwardly extending recess in the lower end thereof, a projection insertable into said recess for detachably mounting said abutment on said shaft, said projection and shaft including interengaging means to prevent relative rotation, and detent means to retain said projection assembled to said shaft.

14. In apparatus for scrubbing rugs, a motor operated brush unit, a handle assembly pivotally connected to said unit and having a handle portion for guiding said unit when scrubbing rugs, a liquid dispenser carried by said handle assembly and including a valve controlled discharge conduit extending to said brush unit, said brush unit having a revolving brush mounted thereon for engagement with a rug, a sponge pad secured to said brush for rotation therewith, a rigid abutment carried by said unit and positioned to compress a section of said pad extending radially of the axis of rotation of said brush and pad, said abutment being fixed with respect to said unit so that said pad rotates past said abutment in continuous compressed engagement therewith, and the end of said conduit being positioned to deliver liquid detergent to said pad whereby compression of said pad by said abutment as said brush revolves produces foam from said liquid detergent.

15. In apparatus for scrubbing rugs, a motor driven brush mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, said brush having a rigid circular back with bristles mounted in an annular area extending downwardly from said brush back, a circular pad of sponge material mounted on the bottom of said brush back inside of the ring of bristles, a rigid abutment extending radially of said vertical axis in compressing engagement with a radial segment of said pad, at least one opening extending through said brush back adjacent said vertical axis and said pad, a liquid detergent dispenser having a discharge conduit extending to a point above said brush, means provided on said brush for directing liquid discharged from said conduit into said opening where it flows to said pad and is converted to a foam by the compressing action of said abutment against said pad.

16. Appartus for scrubbing rugs as set forth in claim 15 including a cylindrical flange extending downwardly from said brush back enclosing said pad and positioned inside of said ring of bristles to direct foam generated in said pad downwardly to the area in which said bristles engage the rug.

17. Apparatus for scrubbing rugs as set forth in claim 15 wherein said means for directing liquid comprises a cylindrical wall on said brush back, said discharge conduit extending into the space enclosed by said Wall, and said opening extending from said space to a point adjacent 9 10 said pad whereby the centrifugal force of the brush 2,951,256 9/60 Hulsh 15114 X rotation urges said liquid into said pad. 3,041,644 7/62 Wallace 15-50 3,121,896 2/64 Allen et a1 15-50 References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 659,062 1/29 France 1,949,659 3/34 Ritter 305,246 z 29 reat Britain, 2,217,617 10/40 Conway 15-50 2,310,379 2/43 Wahl l5-50 X CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

2,683,884 7/54 Kohl 15-49 

1. A FLOOR CONDITIONER COMPRISING A MOTOR DRIVEN BRUSH MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS, A PAD OF SPONGE MATERIAL SUPPORTED BY SAID BRUSH, A FIXED ABUTMENT MOUNTED TO COMPRESS A PORTION OF SAID PAD, MEANS FOR DEPOSITING A LIQUID DETERGENT ON SAID PAD WHEREBY FOAM 